Ring Down His Thunder

ABOUT THE CHOIR

In 1988, the University of Notre Dame Campus Ministry departement first purchased a small set of Schulmerich bells. Thirty years later, the choir has expanded to cover more than five full octaves, providing music ministry to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the South Bend community, and parishes around the United States.
The ensemble consists of two choirs: the Coppers and the Bronze. The Coppers are a new choir, founded in Fall 2017. The group of 10 is primarily made up of beginner ringers who are expressing their love for music in a new way. The Coppers rehearse one hour a week and regularly play at dorm masses.

Directed by Karen Schneider-Kirner, the Bronze choir consist of 14 experienced ringers who regularly play at the 11:45 Basilica Masses. In Fall 2017, they were invited to perform at the inauguration of the Beijing Global Gateway in China. They are looking forward to future international tours!

Most recently, both choirs toured Buffalo, NY and Erie, PA in the Spring of 2018.

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Karen Kirner

Karen Schneider Kirner has served on the staff of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame, as a liturgical musician since 1997. She directs the ND Celebration and Handbell Choirs and serves as Associate Director/Accompanist of the ND Folk Choir. Her Notre Dame ensemble not only plays solo pieces, but also on many of the mass parts, hymns, and occasional psalmody, a repertoire that has been carefully honed and developed over the years.

Ms. Kirner is one of four full-time organists at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. She received her undergraduate degree in organ from Ball State University, with minors in piano performance/church music. She also holds a Master of Music degree in organ and a Masters in Art and Religion from Yale University, through the Institute of Sacred Music. Post-graduate study, Ms. Kirner attended the Hochschüle für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria, where she studied voice, piano, organ, choral conducting and continuo playing.

Ms. Kirner has served as a full-time church musician in New York and Ohio, where she also directed bells choirs. She is a published composer of choral and handbell music through World Library Publications of Chicago, including “Mass for Our Lady” composed with colleage Steve Warner. Ms. Kirner resides in South Bend, IN with husband Scott, daughters Emma and Claire, and son Joseph.

Nick Seifert

Nick is the President of the Notre Dame Handbell Choir. He is a member of the Bronze choir and directs the Coppers.

JPW Mass

The Handbell choir accompanies the orchestra and choirs to for the Junior Parents Weekend Mass. Juniors and their parents are invited to attend JPW Mass in the Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center. University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., will be the celebrant for this special occasion.